Petrick, in reality, met Vincent Raymond Dunne in 1965 and heard his story of leading the union truck drivers’ strike in Minneapolis in 1934. Dunne was a good man and loyal leader, modest and quiet, but when it came to his men and his beliefs, he was a firecracker. This one-man performance is based in themes of social justice that is clearly in the PG-13 range, but it could also be important for young people to witness: Petrick tells how, 80 years later, things really aren’t that different for blue-collar workers in America.
At the Coffee Emporium, Petrick (whose previous shows dealing with the struggles of the working class include Breaking Rank! and Never Own Anything You Have to Paint or Feed) sits in the center of the stage in a suit and tie, his gray hair slicked back, sipping a tumbler. It’s 1969 and the recent progress in the Civil Rights and the anti-Vietnam War movements have spurred Dunne to tell his tale from 35 years earlier. His revolutionary fervor hasn’t subsided, as he paces the creaking stage, even if his politics aren’t for everyone.
Dunne was a Marxist, the founder and leader of the American Communist Party. What’s amazing is how Petrick builds empathy with the audience. He portrays Dunne with a staunch dignity and world-weary wisdom reminiscent of the actor Sam Elliott, but he’s also incredibly affable. He lures you in with vignettes from Dunne’s early days, including his rough childhood, riding the rails to find work and meeting and falling in love with his wife. It’s a portrait of a man that could be anyone’s grandpa. Petrick himself draws the listener in, creating a vivid picture of early 20th-century life, with voices for Dunne’s encounters with African-American prisoners, Swedish activists and his own wife that are believable but understated.
What’s most important is how Dunne’s words resonate today. Although Petrick’s story, without music or other accompaniment, is engaging, it does tend to ramble and diverge in odd directions. But those directions always revolve around key themes in the 21st century — the importance of words and how they can be used against others, and how an oppressed people can’t let themselves be pushed around by the authorities.
Calling the enemy a fascist, for instance, is just as wrongheaded as all communists being painted as evil. And all-out war with the police in the streets of America might seem like a dim memory. But it’s strangely topical.
The CINCINNATI FRINGE FESTIVAL continues through June 11. Find CityBeat reviews of 41 early performances here. For a full schedule and more info about Fringe, visit cincyfringe.com.
